Cherry tree named ‘MG 200’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of cherry tree is described and which bears fruit having a red overcolor covering about 80% to 100% of the surface area and a yellow-orange under color, and a mid-season date of ripening which is about 4 days earlier than the ‘Rainier’ and ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees when grown under the conditions prevailing in Central Washington.

Genus and Species of the Claimed Variety: Prunus avium L.

Variety Name: ‘MG 200’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of cherrytree ‘Prunus avium L’, and which has been denominated varietally as MG200, and more specifically to a cherry tree which matures for harvestingand shipment during the mid-season under the environmental conditionsprevailing in Central Washington state.

DISCOVERY AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The present variety of cherry tree was discovered as a whole treemutation growing within a block of ‘Rainer’ cherry trees (unpatented),and which were planted in 1998. This block of ‘Rainer’ cherry trees hadbeen planted on ‘Geisla 6’ rootstock (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,954). Thediscovery of the whole tree mutation occurred during the 2001 growingseason when the inventor observed that the present tree produced fruitwhich was different from the neighboring ‘Rainier’ cherry trees(unpatented). The inventor, upon identifying the promising new variety,asexually reproduced the new variety during the dormant season betweenthe years 2001 and 2002 by removing budwood from the promising chancemutation and grafting it into trees then growing on ‘Geisla 5’ and‘Geisla 6’ rootstock (U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 9,622 and 8,954,respectively), and which were growing in an adjacent block. Theseasexually reproduced trees later bore fruit and the inventor hascarefully compared the asexually reproduced trees with that of theoriginal chance mutation including the fruit produced by the respectivetrees. These subsequent evaluations has confirmed that the trees andfruit produced from these asexual reproductions are identical in allrespects to the original chance mutation.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The ‘MG 200’ cherry tree is characterized principally as to novelty toproducing cherries which are relatively large in size, and have a redovercolor which covers about 80% to about 100% of the fruit surfacearea. The fruit of the present variety further displays a yellow-orangeundercolor. The present variety of cherry tree also produces fruit whichare mature for harvesting and shipment about 4 days ahead of the‘Rainer’ variety of cherry tree (unpatented); and the ‘Early Robin’cherry tree variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,951) of which it is mostclosely similar.

The present variety of cherry tree has been compared and contrasted tothe adjacent ‘Rainer’ cherry trees of the same age, and to the ‘EarlyRobin’ cherry trees growing in a nearby orchard. The new variety ofcherry tree is somewhat similar to the adjacent ‘Rainier’ cherry treeswith respect to its wood, leaf, bloom, fruit flavor, fruit storage life,and bud and bloom cold hardiness. However, the ‘MG 200’ cherry tree canbe distinguished from the adjacent ‘Rainier’ cherry trees in view of itsearlier harvesting date, fruit coloring pattern, fruit size, fruitfirmness, pit flesh adherence, sweetness and overall crop yields. Stillfurther, in relative comparison to the adjacent ‘Rainer’ cherry trees,the branching habit of the trellised, trained trees of the new variety‘MG 200’ appears to be more drooping than that displayed by the‘Rainier’ cherry trees which are growing nearby. Other characteristicswhich contrast the present new variety with the adjacent ‘Rainier’cherry trees which are growing nearby are set forth in the paragraphswhich follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of various aspects ofthe present cherry tree. The colors are as nearly true as reasonablypossible in color representations of this type. Due to chemicaldevelopment, processing and printing the leaves and fruit of the presenttree may or may not be accurate when compared with the actual specimen.For this reason, future color references should be made to the colorplates provided by The Royal Horticulture Society Colour Chart (3^(rd)Edition) provided by the Royal Horticulture Society of Great Britain.

FIG. 1 depicts an 8 year old ‘MG 200’ cherry tree in bloom as it istrained to an existing trellis system.

FIG. 2 depicts a typical fruiting branch of the new variety at harvestmaturity.

FIG. 3 depicts the mature fruit from the new variety ‘MG 200’ which isshown on the left of the photograph; fruit produced by ‘Rainer’ cherrytrees (unpatented) in the center of the photograph; and the fruitproduced by the ‘Early Robin’ cherry tree on the right of thephotograph.

FIG. 4 depicts the nearly freestone characteristic of the cherriesproduced by the ‘MG 200’ cherry tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the horticultural details of this new anddistinct variety of cherry tree, the following characteristics have beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchard oforigin which is located near Orondo, Wash. As indicated, above, allmajor color code designations are by reference to the Royal HorticultureSociety of Great Britain. Common color names are also used occasionally.

TREE

-   -   -   Size.—Generally — Considered medium to medium large when            grown on the dwarfing ‘Geisla 6’ rootstock (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 8,954). The present tree expresses many of the same            growth characteristics as the surrounding ‘Rainer’ cherry            trees which are also growing on ‘Geisla 6’ rootstock.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous and similar to the ‘Rainer’            cherry tree (unpatented), when grown under similar            ecological conditions. Average shoot growth expressed on 9            year old trees was about 39.8 cm. when measured at the time            of harvest.        -   Branching habit.—When the present variety is trained to a            horizontal wire trellis, the branches of the present variety            originate substantially in all orientations. The branches of            the present variety appear to droop down more than those of            the adjacent and similarly trained ‘Rainer’ cherry trees            (unpatented).        -   Density.—Considered moderate for the species. The present            variety forms many spurs. The spur development appears            similar to the adjacent ‘Rainer’ cherry trees.        -   Tree form.—Considered to be round headed.        -   Hardiness.—Considered hardy under the prevailing ecological            conditions. The variety appears to have a hardiness equal to            the ‘Rainer’ cherry tree when grown in Central Washington.        -   Productivity.—Generally — During the 2006 growing season,            the ‘MG 200’ cherry tree had an average yield of about 35            pounds of cherries per tree. In relative comparison to the            adjacent ‘Rainer’ cherry trees growing in the same block,            these trees had an average yield of about 45 pounds per            tree.        -   Regularly of bearing.—Considered regular and consistent.

TRUNK

-   -   -   Size.—Generally considered moderate. When measured at a            distance of about 40 cm. above the ground height and when            grown on ‘Geisla 6’ rootstock, the trunk had a diameter of            about 7.5 cm.        -   Bark texture.—Considered smooth and typical for sweet cherry            trees of a similar age.        -   Bark color.—Grey-Purple (RHS 187A).        -   Lenticels.—Generally — Considered numerous.        -   Lenticels.—Length — About 6.4 mm.; Width — 1.5 mm.        -   Lenticels.—Color — Grey-Orange (RHS 165A).

BRANCHES

-   -   -   Surface texture.—Considered smooth and typical for sweet            cherry trees of the same age.        -   Scaffold branches.—Size — Considered medium for a 9 year old            tree growing under similar circumstances. About 2.8 to about            4 cm. in diameter.        -   Crotch angle.—Generally — About 50 to about 90 degrees.        -   Bark color.—First year wood — Yellow-Green (RHS 146D).        -   Bark color.—Second year wood — Grey-Purple (RHS 187B).        -   Bark color.—Scaffold wood — Grey-Purple (RHS 186C).        -   Branches.—Lenticels — On first year wood, the lenticels have            an average diameter of about 0.5 mm.        -   Lenticels.—Color — On first year wood, the lenticels have an            orange-white color (RHS 159A).        -   Lenticels.—Second year wood — On average, the lenticels have            a length dimension of about 1.5 mm. and width dimension of            about 0.75 mm.        -   Lenticels color.—Second year wood — Considered White. This            color is not distinctive of the variety.        -   Scaffold wood.—Generally — The scaffold wood appears to have            approximately the same size and color characteristics as            observed relative to the trunk bark noted, above.

LEAVES

-   -   -   Leaf form.—Considered oblong and having an acuminate tip.        -   Leaf size.—Length — Approximately 7.2 cm.; width — about 6.9            cm.        -   Leaf color.—Generally — Yellow-Green (RHS 147A).        -   Leaf mid-vein.—Considered large and about 1½ mm. in            diameter.        -   Leaf mid-vein color.—The underside color is Green (RHS            142D).        -   Leaf petiole.—Average length — About 4.1 cm.        -   Leaf surface texture.—Considered glabrous.        -   Leaf marginal form.—Considered doubly serrate.        -   Leaf glands.—Numbers — Typically 2 leaf glands are found on            each petiole and are located close to the blade end.        -   Leaf glands.—Size — About 2 mm. long, and about 1.2 mm.            wide.        -   Leaf gland.—Color — At harvest maturity, the gland color is            considered Red-Purple (RHS 61A).        -   Leaf stipules.—Generally — Are normally present, and average            about 1 cm. in length.

FLOWERS

-   -   -   Flower buds.—Hardiness — Considered hardy under the            ecological conditions prevailing near Orondo, Wash. This            characteristic appears similar to the hardiness            characteristic displayed by the ‘Rainer’ cherry trees            growing at the same geographic location.        -   Flower buds.—Length — About 8.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Diameter — About 5.2 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Form — Considered plump and conical.        -   Date of first bloom.—About Apr. 10, 2006 under the            ecological conditions prevailing near Orondo, Wash. As a            general matter, the bloom produced by the ‘MG 200’ cherry            tree was indistinguishable from that produced by the ‘MG            200’ cherry tree.        -   Flowers.—Size — When fully opened, the flowers have an            average diameter of about 4.3 cm.        -   Average bloom count.—The present variety displays about 2.6            blooms per bud.        -   Flower petals.—Color — White. This color is not distinctive            of the variety, however.        -   Flower petals.—Width — About 16.8 mm.        -   Flower petals.—Length — About 18.2 mm.        -   Nectaries.—Color — Yellow-Green (RHS N144B).        -   Anthers.—Size — Small and considered oval in shape. The            average size of the anthers are about 0.75 mm. wide, and            about 1 mm. in length.        -   Anthers.—Color — Orange (RHS N25D).        -   Pollen production.—Considered moderate.        -   Pollen color.—When mature, the pollen color is Yellow-Orange            (RHS 19A).        -   Pedicel.—Average length — About 4.1 cm.        -   Pedicel color.—Yellow-Green (RHS 144D).        -   Flower sepals.—Form — Typically curled backwards towards the            stem with the tips occasionally touching the pedicel.        -   Flower pedicel.—Color — Yellow-Green (RHS 143D).

FRUIT

-   -   -   Maturity when described.—Prior to the 2006 harvesting year,            the date of harvesting of the ‘MG 200’ cherry tree was            approximately the same time as the adjacent ‘Rainer’ cherry            trees, that being an average date of about June 15, under            the ecological conditions prevailing near Orondo, Wash. In            the 2006 harvesting year, the cherries produced by the ‘MG            200’ cherry trees were harvested independently of the            ‘Rainer’ cherry trees planted in the same block. The harvest            date of ‘MG 200’ was about June 23^(rd). In contrast, in            2006, the ‘Rainer’ cherry trees were harvested about June            27^(th). On average, the present variety of cherry tree is            ripe for harvesting and shipment about 4 days earlier than            the ‘Rainer’ and ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees growing under            substantially identical ecological conditions near Orondo,            Wash.        -   Size.—Considered large to the species. As a general matter,            the fruit size of ‘MG 200’ cherry tree average 1-1.5 row            sizes larger than the fruit produced by the ‘Rainer’ cherry            tree.        -   Average diameter.—Transverse in the suture plane in about            3.4 cm.        -   Average diameter in the apical dimension.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Form.—Generally — Considered uniform and having a short            conical shape.        -   Suture line.—Present, but considered very shallow to            wanting.        -   Base shape.—Considered rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded to slightly indented.        -   Fruit pressure.—Generally — The following table of fruit            pressures as measured in milligrams per millimeter were            recorded at weekly storage intervals for the fruit produced            by the ‘MG 200’, and ‘Rainer’ cherry trees in the one month            following harvest in 2006.

Date Variety Pressure m˜/mm Jun. 23, 2006 MG 200 240.4 Jun. 27, 2006Rainier 273.7 Jun. 30, 2006 MG 200 254.8 Jul. 3, 2006 Rainier 292.3 Jul.7, 2006 MG 200 239.6 Jul. 11, 2006 Rainier 272.4 Jul. 14, 2006 MG 200247.5 Jul. 18, 2006 Rainier 299.4 Jul. 21, 2006 MG 200 251.8 Jul. 25,2006 Rainier 289.2

-   -   -   Stem.—Average Length — About 4.4 cm.        -   Stem.—Color — Green (RHS 138A).        -   Skin.—Thickness — Considered medium for the species and not            particularly distinctive of this variety.        -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.        -   Tenacity to flesh.—Considered tenacious.        -   Tendency to crack.—Yes. This characteristic is similar to            the fruit produced by the ‘Rainer’ cherry trees under            similar wet conditions.        -   Down.—Generally — Wanting.        -   Skin color.—Generally — Mature fruit coloring expressed by            the ‘MG 200’ cherry tree covers a greater percentage of the            surface area of the fruit and exhibits considerable            difference in hue and chroma than that exhibited by the            mature fruit produced by the ‘Rainier’ cherry trees and            ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees as seen in the drawings. In this            regard, the overcolor of the present variety is considered            red (RHS 53B). The undercolor of the skin is yellow-orange            (RHS 18B).        -   Hue, chroma and brix comparisons.—The following represents a            comparison between the fruit produced by the ‘MG 200’;            ‘Rainer’; and the ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees at harvest            maturity at the same geographical location:

Average Average Average Variety Harvest Date Hue Chroma Brix MG 200 Jun.23, 2006 32.1 42.5 17.84 Rainier Jun. 27, 2006 55.5 37.5 15.28 EarlyRobin Jun. 27, 2006 76.8 37.5 16.72

-   -   -   Flesh color.—Yellow (RHS 2D).        -   Pit cavity.—Color — Yellow (RHS 2D).        -   Flesh texture.—Considered moderately firm and juicy. While            the present variety is considered firm, the firmness of the            fruit is not equal to that of the ‘Rainer’ cherry trees when            grown under the same ecological conditions.        -   Flesh fibers.—Generally — Present. They are average and have            no mouth feet.        -   Date of ripening.—About 4 days earlier than the ‘Rainier’            cherry trees at the same geographical location. In this            regard, the present variety ripened for harvesting and            shipment approximately Jun. 12, 2004; Jun. 15, 2005; and            Jun. 25, 2006.        -   Flesh flavor.—Considered sweet and moderately low acid.        -   Flesh Aroma.—Considered slight.        -   Eating quality.—Considered excellent.

STONE

-   -   -   Stone type.—Considered nearly free-stone. In comparison, the            stone of the ‘Rainier’ cherry trees are more adhering to the            flesh. Still further, the fruit produced by the ‘Early            Robin’ cherry tree exhibit a tight adherence of the flesh to            the stone, and is therefore considered to be a cling-stone.            Please see FIG. 4.        -   Stone size.—Considered medium for the species.        -   Stone diameter.—Approximately 12.8 mm. when measured from            the apex to the base; 9.6 mm. when measured between the            sutures; and about 7.7 mm. in diameter when measured between            the sides.        -   Stone form.—Generally — Oval with one small wing protruding            along the basal shoulder, and along the ventral suture. The            small wing is located between two low ridges.        -   Base.—Shape — Slightly oblong.        -   Helium.—Shape — Slightly oblong.        -   Apex.—Shape — Rounded.        -   Sides.—Generally — They typically appear equal.        -   Surface texture.—Considered smooth.        -   Ventral edge.—Generally — About 1.5 mm. wide. The ventral            edge is further subtended by two lower ridges which converge            basally and apically. These narrow sutures average about            6 mm. wide at their mid-point.        -   Dorsal edge.—Generally — This feature appears as a sharp,            smooth and slightly raised ridge which extends from the base            to the apex.        -   Stone color.—Yellow-Orange (RHS 18D).        -   Tendency of split.—Not observed.        -   Fruit use.—Considered an early season cherry for premium            fresh markets.        -   Keeping quality.—Generally considered excellent and equal to            the fruit produced by the ‘Rainer’ cherry tree.        -   Resistance to insects and diseases.—No deficiencies noted.            The present variety appears to have the same disease and            insect resistance as that of the ‘Rainer’ cherry trees when            grown under the ecological conditions common to Central            Washington.        -   Shipping quality.—Considered very good and similar to that            of the ‘Rainier’ cherry tree.

Although the new cherry tree possesses the described characteristicswhen grown under the conditions prevailing in Central Washington, itshould be understood that variations of the usual magnitude andcharacteristics incident to changes in growing conditions,fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected.

1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree substantially asillustrated and described and which bears fruit having a red overcolorcovering about 80% to 100% of the surface area, and a yellow-orangeundercolor, and a mid-season date of ripening which is about 4 daysearlier than the ‘Rainier’ and ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees when grownunder the conditions prevailing in Central Washington.